BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood High School (BHS) hosted ten Round Top Elementary (RTE) School students on Wednesday, April 20 to give the Round Top students an opportunity to learn more about setting goals and achieving success. The younger students shadowed their high school mentors, touring the school and attending classes with them.
“It was neat to see all the new things they are learning [at Blythewood High]. It makes me excited to know I’m going to be able to learn that hard stuff one day,” fifth grader Tim Francis said.
Originally designed to offer support to freshmen transitioning to high school, the partnership has put a spin on the traditional mentoring programs at each school.
Round Top teacher Teri Stone and BHS Teacher Cadet Instructor Susanne Liggett collaborated with RTE Assistant Principal Brandon Schirmer and BHS Senior Mentor Director Ben Ehrlich to figure out a way to connect motivated and successful high school students with elementary buddies who have experienced some struggles in the classroom.
The program began in January with weekly meetings at Round Top. The pairs will continue to meet through mid-May.
For BHS senior mentor Ira Daquioag, seeing her mentee have fun in a different setting was a highlight of the day.
“It was fun seeing his face light up whenever we walked around the halls…I’m sure it was a great experience for him, and I’m glad to have contributed to it,” Daquiog said.
Daquioag was also impressed that her 2nd-grade RTE buddy even took notes during her AP Calculus class.
